Head-to-Head
Bar Sotano vs Mi Tocaya Antojería
Bar Sotano for the kitchen; Mi Tocaya Antojería for the room.
The Verdict
Bar Sotano for the kitchen; Mi Tocaya Antojería for the room.
Bar Sotano runs the stronger kitchen — food at 9.4 vs 9 on our scoring. Bar Sotano takes the room (9.4 vs 9); the verdict is between a kitchen-first room and a room-first kitchen.
Both kitchens cook Mexican in Chicago, but the rooms read differently. Bar Sotano works for first date, birthday; Mi Tocaya Antojería works for first date, birthday.
Both sit at $$$ ($120–250 per person). At identical price tiers, the choice is about format, not budget.
Which One for Which Occasion
| Occasion | Editorial Pick |
|---|---|
| First Date | Bar Sotanoambience scores higher (9.4 vs 9). |
| Close a Deal | Bar Sotanoedges on the combined kitchen + room read that closing-the-deal demands. |
| Birthday | Bar Sotanoambience scores higher (9.4 vs 9). |
| Impress Clients | Bar Sotanoedges on the combined kitchen + room read that closing-the-deal demands. |
| Proposal | Bar Sotanoambience scores higher (9.4 vs 9). |
| Solo Dining | Bar Sotanotagged for this occasion in our editorial; the other isn't. |
| Team Dinner | Bar Sotanobetter value per cover for group spend (9.4 vs 9). |
The Numbers
Our scoring puts Bar Sotano at 9.4/9.4/9.4 (food / ambience / value) and Mi Tocaya Antojería at 9/9/9. Pick the dimension that matters most to your evening and follow it.
How to Book
Both restaurants sit in Chicago's top scoring tier — neither takes same-week walk-ins for prime weekend slots. Set booking alerts on the platform each uses (check the practical-info card on the linked detail pages above). Weekday and earlier-seating windows are the realistic targets.